Yes, I believe you are correct, Judas was appointed to dishonor.OK now here is the controversial bit.
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16So then it depends not on human will or exertion,b but on God, who has mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills....
21Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory...
I suggested that Judas was appointed to dishonour...
Now... I can hear a chorus of voices saying 'naughty naughty' for thinking that...
However I think that our theology to a large degree is a reflection of our concept of God.
Paul had a radical encounter with Him which would have left deep impressions of His Holiness, Awe, Otherness...
I have had several encounters that have deeply impressed on me the Fear of Him, the Purity of Him, He is the Final Word...
He has the prerogative to do as He wills and we are not to judge.
When you have encounters of this nature you have less issue embracing the God of the OT with the Jesus of the NT.
This intense 'Terrible Love' is our Saviour without compromise, without error, both gentle and unyeilding, forever Just.
Putting it out there...
Comments please.
The same way Pharaohs heart was hardened against God. God didn't harden his heart, God gave him over to his hardened heart, that's what Pharaoh wanted and that's what God gave him. The scripture says that Pharaoh was raised up for this cause that the power of God may be revealed.
In Judas' case, he believed that Christ would be the conqueror of Rome. He betrayed Christ to force his hand. After some 3 years of witnessing firsthand the ministry of Christ, he chose to harden his heart against the truth, so God gave him over to his hardness. He also was raised up for this cause.
Back to Paul, I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to understand the plan of God for Israel.
To not understand the plan of God for Israel is not to understand the plan of God in general. This misunderstanding has led to many dangerous false doctrines.
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